Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs StoneX Trading, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading are both publicly traded brokers with top Trust Score ratings of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing each in the highly trusted range. Charles Schwab was founded in 1971 and is also a bank, while StoneX Trading was founded in 1983 and is not a bank. For many traders, these details can help show how long each company has been in business and how it is structured.
When it comes to regulation, StoneX Trading holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while Charles Schwab holds 5 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. Since Tier-1 licenses are viewed as highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses as trusted by ForexBrokers.com, both firms score well on oversight and safety. In short, Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading each offer strong regulatory standing, with StoneX holding slightly more licenses overall.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Charles Schwab vs. StoneX Trading for commissions and fees, both brokers land in the mid-pack overall, but StoneX Trading comes out ahead on pricing. Charles Schwab earns a 4-star rating and is ranked #24 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Schwab does not charge forex commissions, so trading costs come from the spread. Its average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is on the higher side of average. Schwab also supports forex trading through its Schwab One and Schwab Global accounts, with no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts, though trades are settled in U.S. dollars and international currency trading may require a phone call.
StoneX Trading scores slightly better, with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 out of 36 ranking for commissions and fees. Its pricing for forex, CFDs, and spread betting is generally in line with the industry average, and its CFD account showed an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips in July 2023. For active traders, StoneX also offers rebates and discounts in certain regions, which can help lower costs for high-volume trading. For the best pricing, StoneX says traders should use its own platforms or MetaTrader.
In simple terms, Schwab is a solid choice for beginners who want low entry barriers and no forex commission, while StoneX Trading may be the better pick for traders focused on tighter spreads and volume-based rebates. If keeping trading costs as low as possible is your main goal, StoneX has the edge in this comparison.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.27 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.27 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Charles Schwab offers more choice than StoneX Trading overall. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols, compared with 13,500 at StoneX Trading, and it also offers a wider selection of forex pairs, with 73 available versus 66 at StoneX. Both brokers support forex trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
Charles Schwab also stands out for access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, so clients can buy real shares rather than CFDs. StoneX Trading does not offer that same direct stock access, but it does include copy trading, which Schwab does not. Despite these differences, both brokers receive 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, though Schwab ranks higher at #5 out of 36 brokers, compared with StoneX Trading at #8.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including simulated paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Each also lets users place trades directly from a stock chart, which can make active trading easier. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers, while StoneX Trading earns 4.5 stars and ranks #11, showing that both are well regarded for trading technology.
The biggest differences come down to extra features. StoneX Trading supports copy trading and MetaTrader 4, while Charles Schwab does not offer either one. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5. For traders who want a more classic brokerage setup, Schwab may be a better fit; for those who want access to MT4 or copy trading, StoneX Trading has the edge.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, plus stock and forex price alerts and watchlist syncing so changes carry over between the app and your online account. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, which is helpful if you like to track price action on the go. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well.
Where Charles Schwab stands out is charting depth: its mobile app offers 374 technical studies, compared with 88 at StoneX Trading. That wider charting range helps active traders who want more ways to study market moves. Schwab is also rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while StoneX Trading earns 4.5 stars and ranks #9, making Schwab the stronger choice overall for mobile trading app features.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading give traders useful daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking important global events. Each platform covers the basics well for traders who want timely updates and a clear view of what may move the markets.
The key difference is in extra research tools. StoneX Trading adds Trading Central tools and a sentiment feature that shows long-versus-short positioning across currency pairs and other instruments, while Charles Schwab does not offer those options. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. Still, Charles Schwab earns a higher research rating at 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers, compared with StoneX Trading’s 4.5 stars and #10 ranking.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn before they trade, Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading both offer a wide range of educational support. Each broker provides at least one online client webinar per month, along with 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos covering trading topics. That means new traders can find plenty of material to help them understand the basics, while more experienced users can keep building their skills over time.
When it comes to forex or CFDs education specifically, both brokers offer at least 10 learning pieces on those topics, giving newcomers more focused help in these markets. Charles Schwab edges ahead overall with a 5-star Education rating and a #6 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while StoneX Trading is close behind with a 4.5-star rating and a #9 ranking. In simple terms, both are strong choices for educational content, but Charles Schwab has the slight advantage for beginners seeking more total learning support.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than StoneX Trading. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while StoneX Trading finished with an overall rank of #8.
Charles Schwab is a highly trusted financial institution and multi-asset broker catering to U.S.-based and international forex traders. Schwab's award-winning thinkorswim platform offers over 70 tradeable currency pairs alongside impressive tools, research, and education. That said, the broker’s forex offering is still largely limited to what is available on thinkorswim.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
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When comparing Charles Schwab vs StoneX Trading for cryptocurrency access, neither broker offers the ability to buy actual, delivered crypto, but both do provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs rather than the underlying asset.
Charles Schwab and StoneX Trading both support ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds, but StoneX Trading also offers PayPal while Charles Schwab does not; neither broker supports Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | StoneX Trading Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.27 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.27 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | StoneX Trading Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | StoneX Trading | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | StoneX Trading Review |
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